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Ahn Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Get a later one

I was reading a transcript of 'Boston Legal', and I saw the following conversation.

Paul: Brad, you got a few minutes?
Brad: Actually, no, I've got an early shuttle.
Paul: Get a later one. I need some face time.

Is it OK to put 'a' before 'one'?
I thought 'one' meant the singular as it is so it didn't need 'a' or 'an' before it.
And can I say just "Get later one" instead of 'Get a later one' ?
  

Top answer

You can't say, "Those hotdogs look good. " You must skip the article only when the pronoun directly follows the verb without intervening modifiers. (Hmmm.

— Avangi

  • You can't say, "Those hotdogs look good.
  • " You must skip the article only when the pronoun directly follows the verb without intervening modifiers.
  • (Hmmm.
  • ) It seems also to depend on whether the direct object of the verb is definite or indefinite.
  • I'm planning to take someone to the dance.
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4 Answers
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You can't say, "Those hotdogs look good. I think I'll get a one!"

You must skip the article only when the pronoun directly follows the verb without intervening modifiers. (Hmmm. That doesn't quite work!)

It seems also to depend on whether the direct object of the verb is definite or indefinite.

I'm planning to take someone to the dance.

I'm plan
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Paul: Get a later one. I need some face time.

There are probably several shuttles - he should get one of them.





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The short answer is, no. you can't just say "get later one." If there is only ONE later shuttle, you could say "get the later one." If there are probably several choices, you say "get a later one."
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It occurred to me as I was waking up from my nap, that the only "optional a" I can think of is with the negative:

Not one bridge was left standing.
Not one was left standing.
Not a one was left standing.
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